Mandarin Program - Eagle Point Elementary School (2024)

In the 90:10 dual language immersion (DLI) model, the target language is used in kindergarten for 90% of the instructional time and English is used for 10%.

At each grade level, the amount of instruction in English rises by 10%, as per the charts, below,

Note: Lunch/recess is not included in instructional minutes. Specialists are included in the % English. The increasing % English is in literacy, math, and science.

Students in Kindergarten will spend 90% of their day learning in Mandarin. All core instruction in literacy, math and science will be done in Mandarin. The other 10% of the day students will use English. For Kindergarteners this will take place during their specialist time (Science, Music and Phy. Ed). As students progress in grade levels the percentage of time they learn in English during literacy, math and science will increase.

Students will join their grade level peers who are enrolled in English classrooms during lunch, recess, field trips and other grade level events.

There are many benefits of attending dual language immersion and being bilingual or multilingual, including:

1. Academic benefits: Dual language immersion students can do as well or better than non-immersion students in academics, graduation, and participation in higher academic programs as they reach high school.

2. Cognitive benefits: Dual language immersion students develop more neural pathways in the brain that lead to preparedness for more learning and connections.

3. Social and Economic benefits: Dual language immersion students are more prepared to learn other languages as they get older and are more prepared for work and life in a local and global economy.

Younger students are able to adjust and adapt their language abilities. As they learn more of the target language, they also develop more proficiency in English. If families speak another language at home besides English or the target language (Hmong, Mandarin, or Spanish), they should continue to speak the home language. Research has shown that as students are stronger in their first language, they become stronger in their second or third language.

1. We encourage families to continue using the home language when at home. If your family speaks English, continue to use English at home. If your family speaks Hmong, Mandarin, Spanish, or any other language, continue to speak your home language.
2. Our teachers and staff will support language immersion students with academic and language learning.
3. Any work that students bring home will be for practice only. Students will have learned the content during school and may be asked to practice at home.
4. Families can continue to support their children by reading, telling stories, sharing chores, and engaging in other family activities.

In high school, students in grades 10, 11, and 12 can take reading, writing, speaking, and listening tests in the target language to earn a bilingual seal.

Benefits of receiving a Bilingual Seal include:

• Earn high school elective credit

• Earn college credit *

• Save money by getting college credits waived

• Skill to highlight on your resume

• Provide an edge in a competitive job market

• Open doors to volunteer opportunities

• Notation on your high school transcript

• Confirm your competence in another language

* The number of credits varies depending on the institution. Students have three years to request college credit after high school graduation.

There are no attendance boundaries for the dual language immersion programs. Students can live anywhere in the district and enroll in dual language immersion.

Students who don’t live in District 622 may open-enroll to participate in a dual language immersion program as long as space is available.

Parents/guardians do not need to know the immersion language. Families can encourage the students to practice their language and do any assignments sent home.

Yes. The dual language immersion program is free.

The dual language immersion program occurs during the regular school day.

Older elementary siblings of the language immersion student may enroll in the same school if there is space available. Families must complete the Intra-District Transfer Formto enroll their older studentin the same school.

Dual language immersion class sizes will be similar to the other classes in the school. Kindergarten classes may average 25-26 students.

Any student with any language background or special needs can enroll in dual language immersion. Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are entitled to Special Education Services. The service model will be adjusted to provide service that works within the dual language immersion program.

Parents have the option to transfer their studentout of the dual language immersion program at any time.

It is important to note that enrollment into a dual language immersion program produces the best outcomes for students on a long-range enrollment. Many students who initially begin in a dual language immersion classroom, especially in Kindergarten, may feel frustrated because of the added expectation of using the target language. As students gain more proficiency in the target language throughout the school year and from year to year, students will become more confident and more comfortable using the target language.

Students who opt to leave the immersion program can be enrolled a their home school.

• Center for Applied Linguistics: Free Online Resources
• Thomas & Collier: Research on Bilingualism and Why Dual Language Education?
• American Council on Immersion Education: Network of language immersion educators
• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: Research, Assessment, Guides
• Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition: Immersion Research Projects
• Minnesota Advocates for Immersion Network: Collaborative forum for immersion educators
• Minnesota Department of Education: World Languages and Dual Language Resources

• The Benefits of Being Bilingual - TEDxKIDS@ElCajon with Bella Lawson and Jose Sabedra (YouTube)
• 10 Amazing Benefits of Being Bilingual - Bilingual Kidspot (YouTube)
• Inside California Education: Dual Immersion - Redding School of the Arts - PBS KVIE (YouTub